She has got inside the mind of a killer. Several times. Considered to be among the best hands in brain fingerprinting, narco analysis and psychological tests in the country, Dr SL Vaya has initiated a number of practices in forensic psychology. Director of the Institute of Behavioural Science of Gujarat Forensic Science University (GFSU) and additional director of Directorate of Forensic Science (DFS), Vaya was recently conferred Union home minister's award for excellence.

"Anybody can be a killer and a killer can be anybody," she told TOI in an exclusive interview. The journey from a qualified clinical psychologist from National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans), Bangalore, with work experience in Manipal, Bangalore and Ahmedabad to Forensic Science Laboratory in 1984 in the lie detection division has been a memorable one for her. Vaya has been instrumental in introducing forensic psychology not only in Gujarat but also the entire country.

Among the many famous cases, Vaya also handled narco analysis of the suspects in the controversial Aarushi murder case. "Getting into somebody's mind is not that difficult - many things give them away. The body language and behaviour speak volumes even before they start speaking," she says.

If police use interrogation to get information, forensic psychologists prefer to make their subjects comfortable. "We don't interrogate them, we interview them. We bring them to an equal footing and get them relaxed. After that, it is up to the person how much he/she wants to reveal," says Vaya.

She believes that no mind can be classified as 'criminal'. Narrating an incident about a youth who killed a film actor in south India, she says, "The body was found from the home of the actor's girlfriend, his body parts nailed to the wall. It was later revealed that the youth (the girl's brother) did not approve of the relationship and killed him out of revenge. He was totally normal in outward appearance but committed the murder with ease. Same goes with many killers and criminals. It is another side of our normal persona," says Vaya.

Vaya's training in forensic psychology helps her keep a steely front. "You can decide how much you want to give yourself to the other person. That's why I have been able to separate personal and professional lives," she says.